Los Angeles Rams: The one reason why the Rams will defeat the Saints

We’ve already made the case that the Los Angeles Rams are not true underdogs in the NFC Championship: this is why the team will walk away victorious.

The Los Angeles Rams enter the NFC Championship as the second seed and must travel to New Orleans to take on the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are the favorites in this game and rightfully so: the team is the one seed, is at home and defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the Week 9 matchup.

For a lot of reasons, this seems to be the Saints year. Drew Brees has been phenomenal and a second ring would finally give him more merit in the greatest of all time debate over Tom Brady and Peyton Manning (although we still think it is Brady).

It also could be Brees’ last real shot at winning it all. The veteran quarterback just turned 40 and has shown some signs of aging. While he is performing at an elite level, there have been certain throws and moments that 36-year-old Brees would have knocked down.

Brees has at least one more year at a high level and probably two but it is understandable why the team feels urgent to win it this year.

And I am sorry to say to all my friends that are Saints fan (which there surprisingly are quite a few) that this won’t be the Saints year. In fact, the Saints are going to fall short in the NFC Championship and not even get a chance for glory.

Why? There is one overlapping reason that is in the Rams’ favor; the Saints offensive line.

The Saints live and die by Brees and the running game and pass blocking for Brees is the most important component to get everything going. While the Saints’ offensive line is not elite, it has done more than its fair share of giving Brees enough time in the pocket to fire down the field.

A big reason for the Saints’ win over the Rams the first go around was the ability to contain the Rams’ pass-rush. Although the Rams pressured Drew Brees 12 times, the team was only able to hit him twice and did not record a single sack.

The Saints’ offensive line did just enough to get the job done.

It is not going to be the same thing this time around. The Saints offensive line is banged up, and while they all will probably play, the advantage is obviously going to the Rams.

Center Max Unger and tackles Andrus Peat and Ryan Ramczyk all were limited in practice due to various injuries. Ramczyk is dealing with a shoulder injury and Unger a knee injury; it is still unsure if those two are suiting up.

Peat, meanwhile, has a broken hand but is expected to play. With it being the NFC Championship, I doubt that any of the three are going to be forced to sit out.

But even with them in, the Saints obviously are playing with a car sputtering on empty and there isn’t a gas station in sight with Aaron Donald and the rest of the pass-rush breathing down their necks.

That is what is going to make the difference and what is ultimately going to lead to a Rams win. The Los Angeles Rams should have no problem in scoring enough points to win on Sunday, it is containing the Saints’ offense that is the biggest worry.

With a banged up line and the best defensive player in football coming at Drew Brees, it is going to be a long day for Saints’ fans.